Butler was born October 25, 1942 to Loula and Rubin Tabor in Choctaw, Louisiana. He loved Choctaw and all the wonderful families he grew up around. He said, “born a Choctaw, die a Choctaw.” He attended West Jefferson High School and Delgado Community College. He worked for Brown and Root International in oil field management in Scotland, Norway, Mexico, and Alaska. In Alaska, his crew was the first to send oil through the Alaskan pipeline. He also worked for Watts Construction in Lafitte, Louisiana as a foreman and superintendent.
Butler was a proud US Army Veteran. He was in the army during the Cold War and Korean conflicts. He was a member of DAV, the American Legion, and VFW. He was generous and would buy meals for any military members or police that he saw. He was once honored by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for being a long-time donor. Butler was a member of the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club and would always attend the car shows in Natchez and Ridgeland, Mississippi. He also enjoyed woodworking, spending time with friends and family, and any family gathering where he could chase around his step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Loula and Rubin Tabor; first wife, Martha Tabor; brother, Dudley Tabor; and sister, Dale Tabor Martin.
Butler is survived by his wife, Mary Alice Nolan Tabor; daughter, Tina Bathery; sons, Butler Tabor, Jr. and Charles Tabor; sister, Catherine Hebert; brothers, Earl Tabor and Philip Tabor; and step-children, Floyd Bealer, Jr., Paul Bealer, and Cynthia Morel.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Butler’s services at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, Louisiana 70124, on Friday, August 28, 2026. Visitation is from 12:00 pm until the Funeral Mass at 2:00 pm. Interment with military honors to follow at Lake Lawn Park Mausoleum, 5454 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, Louisiana 70124.
The family would like to thank the Slidell Memorial Hospital ICU unit.
